Smoke levels prompts health concerns

Tasmanians with respiratory problems have been urged to closely monitor smoke levels as air quality plunges into the “very poor” range in parts of the state. THE CAUSE REVEALED >>

TASMANIANS with respiratory problems have been urged to closely monitor smoke levels after forestry regeneration burns pushed air quality into the “very poor” range in parts of the state.

Air pollution in parts of Tasmania on Wednesday was worse than the smog-choked cities of China and India.

The Environment Protection Authority recorded air quality that was “poor”, or “fairly poor” in Gretna, New Norfolk, Hobart, Mornington, Judbury, Huonville and Geeveston.

The EPA defines fairly poor air quality as containing more than 25 micrograms of small particles per cubic metre.

Peak levels at New Norfolk approached 140 micrograms per cubic meter on Wednesday morning and 120 at Gretna — pushing air quality into the very poor range.

The World Air Quality Index real-time monitoring website rated New Norfolk’s air quality as unhealthy for sensitive groups with a rating of 144, Judbury scored 127.

By contrast the index for Beijing was 42 and 102 for Mumbai.

Sustainable Timber Tasmania carried out burns near Maydena, Ouse, Geeveston, Judbury and Glen Huon on Tuesday.

Director of Public Health Mark Veitch urged people with respiratory conditions to monitor conditions.

“It is a bit smoky today and if people go to the EPA or the health department website and look up air quality, they’ll be able to monitor how much smoke in the air,” he said.

“People who are susceptible to respiratory illness, I recommend they have a respiratory illness or an athsma plan that they talk through with their general practitioner and that strategy that makes sure that they’re getting the right treatment for their lung disease.

: That means that when there’s smoke in the air they are able to recognise it, they close up the house they put airconditioning on so it circulates their air out rather than in and if they had any concerns about deteriorating breathing or chest pain or the like, they should call an ambulance.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the burns were necessary.

“That’s important as well of course in terms of our forest industry, and also reducing fuel as well as part of fuel reduction burns more broadly, which creates more smoke within the atmosphere,” he said.

“Now naturally, the timing of those is well laid out and planned for. We don’t want to interrupt or disrupt tourism season, or indeed people’s health as well.”

Sustainable Timber Tasmania Fire Management Manager Dean Sheehan said the government-owned enterprise aimed to manage the impact of smoke from its planned burning program.

“Sustainable Timber Tasmania coordinates planned burns under the co-ordinated Smoke Management System, a smoke management tool which is co-ordinated by the Forest Practices Authority and only undertakes planned burns when weather conditions are favourable,” he said.

“Smoke dispersal is planned away from populated areas wherever possible and on poor smoke dispersal days, burning is often postponed.”

The Bob Brown Foundation blamed the forestry industry for making it harder to breathe.

“Tasmanians are today choking on smoke after numerous logging burns yesterday.

“The logging Incineration burns must end. In this time of climate crisis where Australia is seeing increased fire risk from logged forests, escaping forest fires and flooding from vast vegetation clearance, it is essential logging and incinerating the last remnant forests that remain is halted.”

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